Free Living in Shadow (Living In…) by Jackie Ashenden

on the edge of the desk, her color high. “I shouldn’t have said it at all.”
    “So why did you?”
    “Because you were honest with me and I feel…bad about what I said to you. I was only…trying to protect myself.”
    Of course she was. He’d seen that the moment he’d told her what he wanted from her and recognized the fear in her eyes. A fear he didn’t want. A fear that shouldn’t be in the eyes of such a strong, passionate woman.
    Someone had put fear there. Which meant someone needed to take it away.
    Him.
    “Why?” he demanded, trying to detach himself from his anger and frustration. “What are you protecting yourself from? Is wanting me so fucking bad?”
    Her jaw went tight. “Of course it’s bad. It’s wrong on every level. Jesus, even having this conversation puts my job at risk, not to mention your degree.”
    Shit no. She wasn’t going to bring it back to that again. “Don’t give me that bullshit, Professor. It’s not about the job. Or at least it’s more than that. You’re afraid of me and I want to know why.”
    She straightened, folding her arms. “We’ve already had this conversation, Lucien.”
    “Then give me a straight answer.”
    Anger flashed in her gaze. “Why the hell should I? I’ve already given a piece of myself to you. Why should I give you anything more?”
    And just like that, his frustration overflowed. “You really want to know? How about because of this.” He dropped his backpack on the floor with a thump, kicked the door of her office shut. Then he came around the desk, intent, yet giving her a chance to move away if she wanted. A chance to say something. A chance to stop him.
    She didn’t do any of those things, standing completely still, her eyes widening as he came closer. Reached for her. Curled his fingers around the back of her head, silky blonde hair against his skin. Her pupils dilated, gray deepening into charcoal. She was wearing a light-pink gloss and he’d never seen anything so delicious in all his life.
    He didn’t hesitate, bending and covering that delectable mouth with his own.
    The kiss was a hammer blow, exploding through every single one of his senses. She tasted of coffee, the faint mint of toothpaste, and something hot and deeply sensual, like sun shining on bare skin. His fingers twisted in her hair as he deepened the kiss, wanting more. Chasing that heat, only to find something far more intense—her response. She opened her mouth beneath his and desire, explosive and all-consuming, roared through his veins like a match to dry tinder.
    He cradled her head in his hands, tilting it back, angling her so he could kiss her harder, taste deeper. Stroking his tongue over hers, exploring further. Her hands came to rest against his chest, palms pressing against him, but there was no force pushing him away, only her mouth as hungry as his. Only that small-boned, elegant body of hers millimeters away, the faint, sensual scent of her driving him crazy.
    The taste of her was everything he’d been fantasizing about. Everything he’d been dreaming about. Dimly, in some forgotten recess of his brain, he knew he was trying to prove something, but he couldn’t remember what it was.
    She made him forget every single fucking thing.
    He put his hands on her hips, pushing her against the desk.
    For the first time in years he felt warm and he wanted more, wanted her heat all over his skin. Wanted to draw her around him like a blanket and bury himself inside. Let pleasure cancel out the numbness that gripped the heart of him, melt the ice that surrounded his soul.
    Her fingers stiffened on his chest, a subtle pressure. “No,” she gasped against his mouth. “Stop, Lucien. Stop.”
    Luc went still, dizzy with need, lust surging through his veins. He hadn’t felt this out of control, this hungry before. Dangerous, so dangerous. There was a reason he had to detach himself, why he had to stay numb. He needed it.
    Eleanor’s hands pressed harder, the